Program Description
Honolulu Community College offers its students the opportunity to study Communication in a program leading to an Academic Subject Certificate in Communication. This academic credential is included on student transcripts and can be the first step toward employment in a variety of professional and academic fields related directly or indirectly to Communication.
To receive this credential, the student must complete courses in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations and Speech. A grade of "B" or higher must be earned in COM 201, and a grade of "C" or higher must be earned for all other courses required in the certificate.
Program Prerequisites
- A grade of "B" or higher must be earned in COM 201, and a grade of "C" or higher must be earned for all other courses required in the certificate.
Degrees That Can Be Earned
- Academic Subject Certificate in Communication (ASC)
Itemized Estimate of Educational Costs
- Tuition plus cost of books and supplies.
Upon successful completion of the Academic Subject Certificate in Communication, students will be able to:
- Describe the human communication process, its purposes, functions and modes.
- Demonstrate knowledge of verbal and nonverbal codes.
- Explain the role and dynamics of communication in relationships, groups, and organizations.
- Analyze the processes and identify the pitfalls of interethnic and intercultural communication, including interactions in Hawai‘i, Oceania and Asia
- Describe the role of mass and public communication systems in modern societies.
- Identify and explain the functions and methods of telecommunication in a global society.
- Express clearly in writing ideas and opinions about communication theories, based on critical analyses of readings and other sources of data.
- Demonstrate some familiarity with lesser known media in Hawai‘i such as Hawai‘i Public Radio, Hawai‘i Public TV, and Olelo, as well as Web news and journals.
- Describe the major communication processes and the developments that changed the way in which information is exchanged.
- Explain how changes in the way people communicate have affected the ways in which societies/communities organize and define themselves.
- Define and explain the importance of agenda setting, gatekeeping, value transmission, news hole, news criteria in mass media.
- Identify the major factors involved in the development of the print, radio/music, television and film industries, including technological development, landmark government legislation and court decisions, key personalities.
- Explain the impact each of the major media industries has made on American society.
- Identify the main models of ownership and control of communications media.
- Identify some of the largest media companies and their owners, as well as legal and/or ethical issues arising from this ownership structure.
- Identify visual and other techniques used to persuade or sell in TV news, films, videos and magazines.
- Describe the ways the advertising industry uses technology and research to target audiences for consumer goods and political candidates
- Explain how public relations operates and its role in our society today.
- Explain how the American legal system attempts to balance First Amendment rights with the rights of the private individual in the areas of libel, privacy, fair trial and copyright.
- Describe the ethical codes, laws, and regulations that govern the major media industries and identify the government agencies that oversee the media.
- Apply the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics to the handling of news on campus and in the community.
- Describe some of the cultural and social changes occurring globally because of international distribution of newspapers, satellite broadcasts and the web.
- Describe media convergence in the 21st century and its impact on society.
